Glass cutting apparatus



Jan. 27, 1948. w, OWEN 235,154

GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1943 4 Sheets- 1.

Ll I 78 g V F g 30 5 35 @Wfi \\\\m M1. 1. IHM Ow 57v aawaa Jan.27,1948. i w. OWEN 5, 5

GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS I Filed Dec. 10, 1943 4 shets-shee; 2

M1. 4 //7M 0 WEN Jan. 27, 1948. w. OWEN 2,435,154

' GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Shed 4 W/L. 1 mM OW'N' W werfrsm- Patented Jan. 27, 1948 GLASS CUTTING APPARATUS William Owen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 10, 1943, Serial No. 513,810

7 Claims.

This invention relates to glass cutting apparatus and it has particular relation to mechanical cutters adapted to score sheet glass by passing the latter underneath the cutter, or by passing the cutter over the glass.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved cutter of simplified form which automatically sets itself properly for cutting upon sheet glass in response to relative movement of the cutter and glass.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cutter head adapted for application in various types of mechanical cutting apparatus.

In a practical form of the invention a cutter head is suspended pivotally from a holder and the lower portion of the head is provided with an element adapted to be engaged by the edge of a sheet of glass to pivot the head a predetermined degree. In connection with this pivotal action the initially contacting portion of the head is moved out of engagement with the glass edge and the cutting element is set upon the glass surface inwardly from such edge. Relative radial positions of the initially contacting portion of the cutting head and the cutting element about the pivotal axis of the head are such that the cutting element normally lies to one side of a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the head. In pivoting the head the cutter element moves therewith substantially to a dead center position with respect to a vertical linepassing through the axis of pivoting of the head and the cutter element. The head is stopped at such dead center position, or slightly beyond, by engagement of a portion of the head with the holder. During this actuation of the cutter head the holder is moved upwardly in opposition to pressure exerted downwardly by suitable means associated with the holder. Under such pressure the cutter element scores the glass in response to relative movement between the cutter and glass. The cutter head may be said to Walk or step up upon the glass in response to relative movement of the glass and cutter structure. As soon as the cutter passes off the glass it automatically shifts under the influence of gravity, or under action of a spring, to such position that the cutter element will not contact the glass until the operation is repeated.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a glass cutting apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a cutter head on its support and disposed in cutting position upon a sheet of glass; Fig. 4 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line IVIV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line VV of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a cutter head on its support and disposed in an idling position; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a variation in form of the cutter head; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, on a larger scale, of a cutter head and its mountings; Fig. 9 is a multiple reversible cutter structure in which the invention has been embodied; Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a cutter structure in which pressure is applied hydraulically; Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line XI-XI of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of a lever type of cutter structure. 7

In practicing the invention a cutter holder I0 is mounted upon a support [2 by means of upper and lower clamp sections [4 overlapping upper and lower portions of the holder and drawn into clamping relation by a bolt l6 extending through the clamps and support. A suitable opening I8 is formed vertically through the support to receive the bolt freely therethrough. Dowel pins l9 projecting into the clamps and cutter holder aid in preventing relative displacement thereof. A vertical cutter guide or channel 20 is formed centrally in the holder, one side of which is covered by a plate 2| bolted, as indicated at 23, to one side of the holder. In this instance the guide is rectangular in cross-section (Fig. 5) and receives in vertically slidable relation therein a hollow cutter stem 24 of the same cross-sectional contour. Thus the cutter stem, which is prevented from turning about its vertical axis, is vertically adjustable by manipulating a set-screw 25 that is threaded through a flange 26 formed on the upper end of the stem and in such position as to rest upon the upper side of the upper clamp section It.

A cylindrical opening 21 is formed axially in the stem to receive a tube 30 slidably therein. A coil spring 3| abuts the lower end of the tube 30 inside the stem and its lower end rest upon a bottom wall 32 of the stem. Felt or similar fibrous material 34 is supported upon the wall 32 in the bottom of the stem. An adjusting bolt 35 which is screw-threaded, as indicated at 36, into the upper end of the tube 30 has a spherical cavity 37 formed in it top portion for receiving a. spherical head 39 of a bolt 40 that is screw-threaded in a horizontal arm 4| of an upwardly-extending bracket 42. The latter is rigidly secured to the holder H! by means of a bolt 43. An oil supply device 45 which is screwthreaded upon the upper end of the bolt 40 supplies oil through ducts 45 and 47 registering and communicating with each other and with the interior o'f the tube 30, and also with the hill-- low stem 21. Oil can thus be fed through a duct 49 in the bottom of the stem 24.

By manipulating a pair of handles 50 and 51 rigidly formed upon the bolt 35 and tube 38, re-- spectively, and by relatively rotating the bolt and tube, compression of the spring 31 can be varied, and hence the amount of force required to move the stem 24 upwardly in the holder accordingly can be varied.

A cutter head 60 which is disposed between a pair of ears 6| formed rigidly upon the lower end ofthe stem 24 is pivotally supported thereon n headset 9. horizontal pin e4 extending rotat ably t rough the ears and rigidly connected to the head. Movement or the head ti}, which is suspe de "freely from the stern byjthe pin, is limited in a clockwise direction (Fig. '2) by means of an upper extension -6T of -the head, which strikes lo ier-end portion of the stem '24. niz s s i 't is an i 'i i m upon a U -sh apedp'in 1'6, reniovably fitted into openings ll in theiowenportion of the cutter head. A groove 12 formed along the edge of the cutter head receives oil which drips from the duct 39 and is conveyed by such groove to thewheel cutter. placeable whenever a new one is desired or required because the pin 1-8 is held in the openings This type of wheel cutter is easily re- H by friction after it has been sprung into position therein. The head is thus suspended upon the pivot pin 64 in such manner that the wheel cutter normally is disposed to the right of a vertical axis or the stem -24 and to the right of the pivot pin 64 (pig. 2). The center of gravity if the cutter head is located at the left of the pivot-em 6B, an in its neeiy suspended position the butter h a'd tilted in such position that a w on thelower liea rtion is exposed Qtwiith i -sheet offglass 18. In this position of the-head till the wheel cutter '69 is dis uses sl ght-1y above 'thelocatioh o f the base eupi-s, Henee a slfeet ofglass 1a movin underneath thecut'ter head upon a conveyor 79 which is asap-tea to travel in the direction of the arrow strikes the lip 15 pivots the head 68 in a clockwise direction (Fig. '2) until the head exiensicnti i's 'st'opp'ed against the adjacent lower portion of the stem 24. the head approaches this position the wheel cutter contacts the surface of the glassinwardly from its forward edge 8!), and in assuming a vertical position the head forces the 24 upwardly in opposition to pressure exerted by the coil spring 3 I The head and cutter in their cutting position (Fig. 3) are so arrangedthatthe axis off the pivot pin 64 and the airis of the wheel cutter 69 are in substantially vertical alignment In the position of the cutter 69 (:Fig. 2) as the lip 15 and the glass edge 80 are brought into contacting relation, it is only necessary that the wheel cutter 69 clear the glass to prevent-chipping of the glass edges or corners. The degree of angular swinging movement of the head 60 required to reach -the cutting position is suflicient to-com-press the spring GI and to main-'- tain predetermined pressure or the wheel cutter 4 upon the glass during the cutting operation. The greater mass of weight in the cutter head at the left side thereof (Fig. 3) constitutes means to swing the head back to a position to receive another glass sheet for cutting as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to prevent the glass from Slipping upon the conveyor 19 it is engaged by a pressure roller '3 that is -i'otatab ly carried by a bearing block 82, the latter of which is rigidly mounted upon a leaf spring 84. A portion of the leaf spring remote from the bearing block 82 is bolted, as indicated ates. to the lower clamping plate 14. The roller 8! is suff ciently large to roll easily over the edge of the glass even under considerable pressure from the leaf spring and under such pressure the glass is maintained in proper position upon the eastern.

For purposes of safety with regard to the protection of the Wheel cutter, a lug 81 is formed upon'the lower portion of the head adjacent the wheel cutter 69: In the event the head '60 should be'come stuck in the cutting position after a, cutting operation, a succeeding sheet of glass would strike the lug 81 instead of the wheel cutter 69.

It is to be understood that a cutter head of this type -a-h be so arr'ah'ged as to be pivoted in a eioekwise direction beyond its vertical dead cen ter position by cuttin back the lower portion of the cutter stem as shown at F9 (Fig. "7) for *stop ping thefe'xtension iii thereagainst. Since all of the structural-elem'ehts with the exception 'n'oted correspond to those already "described, reference characters and description set forth above apply to this figure its further "detailed description thereof is not necessary. I

Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to include mechanism 'to maintain the cutter head Till positively iapiop i; position to receive the glass against the lip 15. To this end, as shown inFig 8, an arrn ll is connected rigidly and radially to the pin 64. A tension spring 92 is secured at one end to the outer end of the radial arm Wand its opposite end is secured to a bracket 93 vthat is normally disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the arm 9!). Normally the arm 96 is held by the spring 92 in such position that the lip 15, arm 99, and spring 92 are in substantially vertical alignment and this is the 'dead centerposition with respect to the spring 92 'ana arm in connection with the pivoting of the arm about the of the pin 84. Any pivotal inoein'ent of the arm about the axis of the pin 'fil-away from such dead-center positioh 1's resistedby the Spring In an arrangement of this the cutting device can be operated upon sheet glass in a vertical, horizontal or sloping position. r

In regard to relative movement of the glass and cutting elements, it 'is common practice in operating glass mining machines either to move the glass underneat the cutters or to "move the cutters across a table "which supports the glass.

Examples of apparatus operable according to these general principles are shown in my United States Eatents 1,946,356 and 1,984,943. In apparatus of this genera-l type it has also previously been customary either to shift the cutting table vertically or to raise and lower the cutter support inset-ting the cutting element upon the glass. However, in operating the apparatus described herein-it is only necessary to determine the proper position of the cutter and relative paths of mov'ement and then the cutter head automatically sets the cutting element upon the surface of the glass in response to relative horizontal movement of the glass and cutting apparatus.

In the event the cutter support I2 were mounted upon a. bridge movable back and forth across the glass supporting structure according to the description in the patents mentioned, in the reverse movement of the cutting action the cutter head freely pivots in a counter-clockwise direction and can ride idly upon the surface of the glass, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 9. In connection with such reversible movement of the glass and cutter it is possible to cut or score the glass in opposite directions. In such operation the position of the glass can be changed in order that the forward scoring action may be at right angles to the return scoring action, or an unscored sheet of glass can be substituted to be scored by the return or reverse operation. The construction shown in Fig. 9 provides a double construction for such operations. The same mechanical arrangement of the elements as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are included in Fig. 9, with the exception that there are two cutter heads 60 which pivot in opposite directions to assume cutting positions. Hence, one of the wheel cutters will score the glass in one direction of relative movement of the glass and cutter and the other will operate likewise in the reverse direction of relative movement. Since the mechanical elements are the same in both cases a repetition of the description is not necessary for a thorough understanding of the structure and the same reference characters as those applied to Figs. 1 to 7 apply likewise to Fig. 9 upon which they the included.

According to Figs. 10v and 11 the invention has been incorporated in the general type of structure disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,361,049, issued October 24, 1944. In these figures a cutter unit IIII is mounted upon a horizontal support I II by means of bolts I I2, extending through slots I I3 to secure mounting members II4 and H rigidly together and to provide a cutter supporting assembly. These slots II3 are formed in the element II5 to provide for vertical adjustment of the unit in securing it in position to be operated. This type of cutter unit comprises upper and lower casings I26 and I21, which communicate with each other through a nipple I29 rigidly connecting them. A

vertically adjustable needle valve I30 is threaded centrally through a spider I3I that is rigidly secured inside and horizontally across an intermediate portion of the upper casing I26, and its lower seating end I32 cooperates with a beveled seat I34 formed in the upper end of the nipple to determine the passage therethrough of liquid I35 in the container. This liquid can be in the form of oil, glycerine, mercury, or like material. The body of the needle valve I30 has an internally threaded bore I36 in the upper end of which a guide plug I3I is threaded and in which a compression spring I39 is disposed in such position that its lower end projects downwardly through the nipple into the lower casing IZI. The upper end of the spring is supported against the lower end of the plug I31 and the lower end of the spring rests against the upper end of a hollow cutter stem I40, which is secured in fluid tight relation to the central portion of a diaphragm I4I composed of flexible metal, rubber, fabric, leather, or such material as will be both flexible and impervious to liquid. The lower casing I2! is seetional and has horizontal flanges I42 between which the outer edge of the diaphragm is clamped by means of bolts I43. The upper portion of the stem I40 receives a tube section I44 screw-threaded therein to form a vertical extension thereof and has its upper end portion extending slidably through the plug I31 and upwardly through the top of the casing I26. The coil spring I39 surrounds the tube section. The lower casing I2! is thus divided into an upper liquid containing chamber I45 and a lower supporting section I46. The latter has openings I4'I through which air can pass freely.

The lower casing section I46 of the unit has welded or otherwise secured thereon a vertical guide I50 including a rectangular channel I5I therein in which the cutter stem I40 is vertically slidable and over which a cover plate I52 (Fig. 11) is secured rigidly by means of screws I53. A cutter head I56 is mounted in the lower end of the stem between ears I5I formed rigidly thereon. The screws I53 also secure the sleeve to the supporting plate II5. e A wheel cutter I58 carried by the head I56 is adapted to engage a glass sheet I59 for scoring the latter. Precise adjustment of the stem and cutter can be effected by manipulating a setscrew I60 extending through a collar I6I that is rigidly secured to the upper end portion of the tube section I44. The set-screw rests upon the top of the casing I26. A lip I64, corresponding to the lip I5 previously described, responds to relative movement'of the glass and cutter head until an upper end extension I65 of the head is stopped against the lower portion of the stem, thus to set the wheel cutter I58 in proper position upon the glass in the manner previously described. The top of the tube section I44 carries an oil cup I66 from which oil can flow downwardly through a duct I6? in the lower end of the stem whence it can drip into a groove I69 in the cutter head. This groove communicates with the wheel cutter I58 to maintain the latter in properly oiled condition.

According to Fig. 12 the invention has been incorporated in the type. of structure disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,356,877, issued August 29, 1944. In this figure, a. support 200 corresponding to the support I2 carries a lever 20I that has a pivotal connection 204 securing it thereto about a horizontal axis. A downwardly-extending cutter stem 205 integral with the lever is in the form of an angularly disposed arm which includes lower ears 206, A cutter head 201 is mounted upon a pivot pin 208 mounted horizontally in the ears 206. This head is of the same construction as the head 60. A glass plate 209 is supported below the cutter head in position to be engaged by a lip 2 I0 formed upon the lower portion of the cutter head, which also carries a wheel cutter 2I3 arranged in the same manner as in the similar structure previously described. In response to relative movement of the cutter head and glass the latter moves the lip 2N5 to pivot the head until the lip is lifted from the edge of the glass, and the wheel cutter 2I3 is thereupon set on theglass. In this position an upper extension 2I4 of the cutter head bears against the arm 205 of the lever to maintain such head in an upright position during the cutting action. Pressure is applied to the cutter by weights 2I5 carried adjustably upon an arm 2I6 extending outwardly beyond the location of the cutter carrying arm 205. A set-screw 2 I1 threaded through a lug 2I9 formed rigidly upon the support 200 engages an end of the lever 20I extending on the side of the pivot pin 204 opposite the arm 205.

f-fhhi ine s'biiit 6f the inve tion 5nd witfiin the from each other find ori' the sebtibhs' 1imiting pivota'1 movement there- 'tif in' dfie l'ze'tfoh after thes'ectidns pi'vot toa pb s'itibn 0f app'rbximate alignment 150- hold the eupter' element in cutting position. I

3; ohtting'ppa ratusfbr sco'ring'sheet (web-1e albnge, predetermined plen'eya cutter u 'port "dipbsed-a'dj-cent the plane "o f nidvement 'of the glass, A a swinging cutter head pi'vdtaliy connectedto said support and dipds'ed in *o'lJi aItive relation te'the sheet glass to be swung by 1 the latt'ena glass-engaging element sfiiiidnarywi th respect to the cutterheaw'and swmgame'wim the latter into "and out 'of the pI'atiewfmOVement of the gl'ass, "and a cutter elementon the butter head-s'wingable with the latter into 'and-dut of cutting-positidn; said'elemenvbeingramernatay mdva-ble inso'end'ouc Of the meme of movement of'the gla'ss in re's'pon'se tois'winging action of said'head'.

T613111 an apparatus for "cutting sheet, I gla'ss wherein Jzh cutting apparatus. and sheevglass are r1ative1y=movab1e to engage the butting -appar-tus with the 'gl'a'ss' m cutting relatibfi; 'a sflpport";-a "cutterjheed pivotall cbnnected to said support; saidihead-having a portidnflfohming a rigid part'thereof and enghgeable bi! the glas toimparti pivotal-motion tothe hea'd in r'es'plihse' to relative movement between the glass weepparatus; arid rarcuttei .1 elefrient on the head enga'gable a in efitting relation upon the -.g1a'ss in resfidnse' to s-id pivotal motion;

.-7. In"an apparatus for cutting "sheet glass wherein *th cutting apparatus and" sheet-L-gla'ss arearelatively movable to engage the cutting a;p paratus' with: the =g1ass'm' cutting relation; 2; cut ter head, meansfolipivotally slippdrting the cutfi'ervhead. in svvingmg' relation; a cutting' lement enmthe head radially spaced --fr'bm theaxis i of pivoting of said head; saidhead havinga poition forming a'zrigid part thereof and engegeable by thiglESStO impart pivotal mbtibn' tozth'e head in response to the relativemovementibetweeri the glass and app'aratu; r and means inc1ude'd' with the @heati for yieldably holding .said portion in pos'rtion'to be" engaged by the .glass rinire'sp'onse' tq thewrel'ative movement between the" glass and 

